The life cycle of solar panels
Solar panels have quickly become the alternative energy source the most popular in France to produce clean electricity. In addition to being a green energy, photovoltaics allows you to save money on your electricity bills.
Like any energy source, solar energy has a technical side. It’s no wonder that homeowners still have a lot of questions about solar panels. “ How long do solar panels last? ” is one of the most frequently asked questions. After all, the longer your solar panels produce solar energy, the greater the return on investment.
In this article, we will answer this famous question of what is the lifespan of a solar panel? His guarantees as well as on the recycling signs. ☀️
How long does a solar panel last?
Studies show that solar panels have an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years , which is what manufacturers call the optimal rate. If we compare it with the average life expectancy of a boiler which is 10 to 15 years, it's not bad at all!
Some solar panels, especially those made of silicon, have a lifespan of up to more than 40 years old ! The robustness of silicon solar panels is no longer in doubt. The manufacturing method is very simple: the silicon (the active part of the panels), is encapsulated in glass and polymer, which makes it static. There is no maintenance or alteration. What can eventually deteriorate is the connection, but if good quality material is used and it has been implemented well, there is no reason for any degradation.
What are the guarantees for solar panels?
Solar panel warranties are exceptional and are distinguished by their longevity. Among all the components of a solar kit, these are the panels that have the longest guarantees . Moreover, there are very few, if any, equivalent guarantees today on other products. But what exactly is their lifespan?
Typically, manufacturers offer warranties that take into account the degradation of the panels. On average, solar panels have warranties ranging from 25 to 30 years old .
This guarantee ensures the solar panel performance level during their lifetime. Typically, the warranty provides an output power of 90% during the first 10 years and at least 80% after 25 years . In fact, some panels can retain a yield greater than 80% until the end of their life .
As for manufacturer warranties, they will be between 10 and 30 years. You will find on Oscaro Power products guaranteed for up to 30 years!
For inverters, the standard warranties are 5 years, or even 7 years for products marketed by Oscaro Power. As for micro inverters, we have 10 to 25 years of product warranty once again. By comparison, most electronic products have a 2-year warranty (the legal duration).
If you want to know more about self-consumption, we tell you everything in our latest blog post.
Can solar panels be recycled?
Solar panels have seen tremendous growth in recent years. Businesses and individuals around the world are turning to solar energy to augment their electricity needs and transition to a self-sufficient energy source. Investing in solar energy can help reduce your carbon footprint and to free itself from the increasingly unpredictable cost of electricity.
There is no doubt that solar has done wonders to make our electricity consumption more environmentally friendly. However, solar panels are not forever. That is why many are asking the question: Can solar panels be recycled?
A big misconception about solar is that solar panels cannot be recycled! There is a lot of fake news on the internet on this subject. In reality, solar panels are made mainly of glass and silicon, two materials that are widely available and very easily recyclable.
In addition, there is an organization, Soren , available in all regions, which collects defective solar panels from individuals free of charge for recycling.
But then, why this fake news about recycling panels? It's very simple, solar installations have particularly intensified over the last 15, 20 years, and given the lifespan of the panels, very few are recycled!
